I spent the night in Miami and drove early in the morning to the airport. I arrived real early, parked my rental, and walked the really long hallways to the airport terminal. I was directed to Terminal F for XTRA Airways.

I checked in my bag, and then I realized I didn’t have to, since my suitcase wasn’t huge, and this isn’t United Airlines with their ridiculous baggage size demands. I should’ve carried it on board with me, because when I arrived in Havana, the baggage claim took forever. Welcome to Havana, where all the lines take forever!

It took 30 minutes to go through immigration and I presented my VISA card. After getting my luggage, I had “nothing to declare” and went to the exit. As soon as I came out of the Arrivals area, I went back in to Departures so that I could exchange some money into CUC’s. I brought Euros to change, since the dollar is docked 10%. I changed about 200 Euros and went back out. I ignored all the taxi drivers wanting to take me to the city. I pretended to leave the airport, and then looked for old classic cars dropping people off. On their way out, they would see me with my finger out. I took one unofficial taxi to the city for 15 CUC.

When I arrived at my casa particular, I was told it had water problems, so I would be directed to another one, through a friend. My new one would be even closer to the Malecon, with even greater privacy.

After paying my rent, I asked if the owner can drop me off at the nearest CADECA so I could exchange some more money. I exchanged all my Euros and also got some Moneda Nacional. Don’t exchange more than 5 CUCs worth for those almost worthless pieces of paper, but they come in handy when getting food from stands and riding in buses or old school communal taxis.

I was hungry, so I bought a hot dog for 10 cents. It was so-so, but I was really hungry. I bought a big water bottle for 1 CUC and walked back home. Then I went out to get some drinks. I asked around and got a haircut for 1 CUC. A haircut for a dollar! wow! and he was pretty good too.

I noticed that no one is in a rush. For example, the barber would often stop to have conversation with those around him, and my haircut took a full 40 minutes because of that.

I went to a restaurant, and I had a good, large meal of Roja Vieja for 4 CUC. Then I took a round yellow taxi to Habana Vieja (old city) to look around the architecture.

All over Havana, I see old classic cars. Some of them are restored so it looks brand new, but most of them look like they are rusting away. There is no smog control, so the air is quite polluted. I take the old communal taxis that just cost 10 MN (less than 50 cents). They have a route that I can’t figure out. But it’s better than taking a bus for 5 MN, because I really can’t figure out their routes. But most buses just travel along the Malecon.

Everyone is quite friendly and actually wants to talk to foreigners like me. But I see that the police don’t like it when the people talk to foreigners and warn of such behavior. So whenever the police walk by, I just mind my own business and stop talking.

My Spanish is really good now, and I could converse with little problem. However, they talk so fast I have to ask them to repeat themselves. I haven’t encountered any jineteras in Havana. Someone told me the police made them rare.